Expanding Circular Bioeconomy and Carbon Sequestration in British Columbia
Loading...
Issue Date
2024
Editor
Authors
Henry, James
License
Subject
School of environment and sustainability
Abstract
In British Columbia (B.C.), there is growing interest in circular bioeconomies and negative emissions technologies in light of provincial emissions reduction targets, and a growing realization that landfills are costly and nearing capacity. This research examined policies, technology and market dynamics from a systems perspective to expand the circular bioeconomy in B.C. by viewing biomass waste as an economic and environmental opportunity to create usable by-products like biochar to reduce landfill methane and lifecycle emissions, create saleable products for local governments through industrial ecologies. A case study was conducted in qathet Regional District, on the Sunshine Coast of B.C., and in the Capital Regional District (CRD), the Greater Victoria area. The research concludes that increased biomass recovery and valorization can be achieved by adopting and expanding circular policy, and that a significant economic opportunity exists in centralized and place-based thermal processing particularly when supported by carbon sequestration.
Description
2024